Chain fastener



Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,701-

W. T. BRAN NAN CHAIN FASTENER Filed Aug. 2, 1924 22 29 M /fl .516 A? A? m /9 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

FNITED STTES WILLIAM: T. BRANNAN, 0F ELDRED, ILLINOIS.

CHAIN nasrnivnn.

Application filed August 2, 1924. Serial No. 729,735.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, /VILLIAM T. BRAN- NAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eldred, in the county of Greene and a State of l'llinois, have invented certain new andiuseful Improvements in Chain Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had 'to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to chain fasteners and has for an important object thereof the provision of a chain fastener, for use with automobile chains, which is firmly latched when in the closed position.

A, further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which movements of the plates to closed position is limited at such a point that the movable plate, which forms the closure for the chain receiving cove of the stationary plate, is so positioned that the strain of the chain secured by the fastener is placed upon this movable plate and tends to shift the same further into the closed position, such further movement being limited by a suitable stop.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be very cheaply and readily produced, which will be durable and eflicient in service and a general improvement in the art.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a. preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chain fastener constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough Figure 3 is a plan View thereof;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken therethrough showing the construction of the catch.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate stationary and movable sections of the chain fastener, the stationary section being adapted for connection with one end link of the side chains of an automobile antiskid chain, as indicated at 12. The sta tionary member preferably consists of two similar plates 10" and 10*, although the plate 10 can be omitted as is found desirable. Adjacent that end remote from the fastener 12 by means of which the anti-skid chain is attached, the stationary section has formed through its side edge a notch 13 extending slightly more than half-wayacross the plate, as shown, and terminating at its lower end in a chain receiving cove 14. At a point centrally of the plate and between this notch and the adjacent end of the stationary section, the movable section 11 is pivoted to the stationary section, as at 15.

This movable section has formed therein a chain link receiving notch 16, the notch being so formed and so associated withthe pivot 15 that it forms of the movable section a lever having a short arm 17 and a long arm 18. The terminal of the long section is formed to provide a hook 19, the outer surface of which is provided with corrugations 20. This extremity during swinging of the movable section to the closed position, where it lies between the plates 10 and 10 of the stationary section, comes into contact with a spacing element 21 arranged between the plates about the connection 12 to limit movement of the movable section to the closed position. When at the limit of its movement the movable section, and more particularly that por tion thereof lying between the base of the notch 16 and the opposite edge of the long section 18 of the lever, lies: across the mouth of the notch 18 to close the same preventing the escape of a chain link therefrom. The face 22 of the short arm of the lever at this time lies between the fastening 12 and the remote wall of the cove 1 1 so that strain placed upon a. chain link 23 engaged in this cove, which is applied in a direction away from the connection 12, will tend to rotate the movable section toward the spacer 21 and maintain the engagement between. the free end of the movable section and this separator thereby preventing accidental opening of the fastener. When in this position the book 19 extends beyond the end of the stationary section so as to permit the engagement of a screw-driver or the like in the eye 24 thereof or to permit engagement of the hook proper with a pair of pliers or the like to open the fastener.

As a still further precaution against accidental opening of the fastener when in applied position, one of the sections is provided with a resilient tongue 25 having its free end lying in the path of the other of the sections. In the present instance this tongue is shown as :tormed on the section 10 by slotting the plate 1O" as at 26, and adjacenl the notch 13 so that the tongue is formed between the slot and notch. The other of the sections is provided with a notch 27 receiving the hooked terminal 28 of this tongue when the sections are in the closed position, and that edge thereof opposing the hooked end 28 ot' the tongue 25 as the sections are moved to closed position is cam faced, as at 29, to cam the hoolred extension over and cause it to slide against the side face of the section for delivery into the notch 27. It will be obvious that when in the closed osit-ion this tongue by its engage ment in te notch will latch the sections firmly in the closed position and render accidental separation thereof practically impossible.

Many changes being possible in the constrnction hereinloet'ore set forth Without materially departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not limit myself to such specitic structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. A chain fastener comprising a pair of plates 'pivotally connected adjacent: their ends to swing in parallel planes to extended or side to side relation, one of said plates having a notch in its side terminating in a chain receiving cove, the other ot the plates having a chain link receiving notch delivering an engaged link into the cove ot the first named plate means limiting the movement of the movable plate, and means limiting the movement of the last named plate into side to side relation with the .lirst named plate with a wall of the notch extending into the cove, one ol' said plates having in its side wall a, notch the other ot the plates ha ring a resilient tongue provided with a hooked end extending into the path o't movement of the plate having the notch, the notch hearing plate having the Wall thereot opposing said. hooked end plates to side to side relation cam taced lo deliver said hooked end to the side l'aco thereot having the notch.

2. A chain tastener comprising a pair oi plates pivotally connected adjacent their ends to swing in parallel planes to extended or side to side relation one ol said plates having a notch in its side terminating in a chain receiving; cove the other of the plates having a chain link receiving notch dclirering an cngi aged linl: into the cove ot the first named plate means limiting the movement of the movahlc plate and means limiting the movement oi the last named plate into side to side relation with the first named plate with a Wall of the notch ex tending into the covm the first named plate being permanently attached to one end. ot the chain at the end thereof remote from that having the notcln the other ol" the plates having a hooked free end extending heyijmd the chain attached end of the first named plate When the plates are in side to side relation.

In testimony nherco't l hereunto allix my signature.

Wllild' a M 'l. Pill Al N N A N during movement of the 

